Reel Holder and Dispensing Assembly

ABSTRACT

A wire reel holder and dispensing assembly is provided for transporting, holding, and dispensing wire from a wire reel. The holder and assembly includes an elongated shaft configured for insertion through a wire reel. Each of a pair of end members has a polygonal outer perimeter edge and a central opening. The shaft is slidably insertable through the central opening of each end member positioning the end members at each end of the wire reel. Each end member is securable to the shaft to hold the wire reel in a static position along a length of the shaft and prevent rolling of the wire reel on the shaft. A holding assembly is provided for connecting the shaft, end members and wire reel to a vehicle.

This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/180,885 filed on Jul. 12, 2011 and takes benefit thereof under 35U.S.C. Section 120.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to wire dispensing devices and more particularlypertains to a new wire dispensing device for transporting, holding, anddispensing wire from a wire reel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising an elongated shaft configured for insertion througha wire reel. Each of a pair of end members has a polygonal outerperimeter edge and a central opening. The shaft is slidably insertablethrough the central opening of each end member positioning the endmembers at each end of the wire reel. Each end member is securable tothe shaft to hold the wire reel in a static position along a length ofthe shaft and prevent rolling of the wire reel on the shaft.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded top front side perspective view of a wirereel holder and dispensing assembly according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded front view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through6 thereof, a new wire dispensing device embodying the principles andconcepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated bythe reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the wire reel holder anddispensing assembly 10 generally comprises an elongated shaft 12configured for insertion through a wire reel 14. The wire reel 14 may inparticular be holding barbed wire, however the assembly 10 is notlimited to use with barbed wire. A pair of end members 16,18 each have apolygonal outer perimeter edge 20. During use the end members 16,18mirror each other providing flat surfaces 22 to prevent unintendedrolling of the end members 16,18. Each end member 16,18 further has acentral opening 24. The shaft 12 is slidably insertable through thecentral opening 24 of each end member 16,18. Thus, the end members 16,18are configured for positioning at each end 26,28 of the wire reel 14.Each end member 16,18 is securable to the shaft 12 in a manner that theend member 16,18 is held in a static position along a length of theshaft 12. The end members 16,18 are configured for compressing orabutting against the wire reel 14 to secure the wire reel 14 in a staticposition relative to the end members 16,18 and the shaft 12. The endmembers 16,18 each have a planar surface 30. The planar surfaces 30 ofeach end member 16,18 face each other when the end members 16,18 arecoupled to the shaft 12 on opposite sides 26,28 of the wire reel 14.

A first locking assembly 34 is coupled to a first one of the end members16. The first locking assembly 34 may include a collar 36 slidablyreceiving the shaft 12 and a locking screw 38 coupled to the collar 36of the first locking assembly 34. The locking screw 38 of the firstlocking assembly 34 is transversely extendable through a threaded hole40 in the collar 36 to contact the shaft 12. In this manner, the firstend member 16 is held in a static position relative to the shaft 12 byfrictional contact with the locking screw 38. Similarly, a secondlocking assembly 42 is coupled to the second one of the end members 18.The second locking assembly 42 also has a collar 44 slidably receivingthe shaft 12 and a locking screw 46 coupled to the collar 44 of thesecond locking assembly 42. The locking screw 46 of the second lockingassembly 42 is transversely extendable through a threaded hole 48 in thecollar 44 to contact the shaft 12. The second end member 18 is thereforealso held in a static position relative to the shaft 12 by frictionalengagement when the locking screw 44 is tightened.

A perimeter wall 50 of each end member 16,18, extends from the planarsurface 30 forming the outer perimeter edge 20 of the respective endmember 16,18. A plurality of reinforcing members 52 is provided. Eachreinforcing member 52 is coupled to and extends between opposed sides54,56 of the perimeter wall 50 of an associated one of the end members16,18.

A holding assembly 58 is provided to support the shaft 12 in ahorizontal elevated position to permit rotation and distribution of wire60 from the wire reel 14. The holding assembly 58 has a pair of spacedarms 64,66. The spaced arms 64,66 have aligned slots 68 receiving theshaft 12. The spaced arms 64,66 are configured for positioning the wirereel 14 and the end members 16,18 between the spaced arms 64,66 when theshaft 12 is received in the slots 68 in the spaced arms 64,66. Theholding assembly 58 also has a hitch connector 70 coupled to andextending away from the spaced arms 64,66. A cross-member 76 of theholding assembly 58 extends between the spaced arms 64,66 and the hitchconnector 70 extends transversely from the cross-member 76. The hitchconnector 70 is configured for direct attachment to a vehicle hitch 72whereby the wire reel 14 may be transported by a vehicle 74.

Alternatively, particularly for vehicles with low hitch connectionpoints, an offset connector 78 may be coupled to and extend from thehitch connector 70. The offset connector 78 has a distal section 80relative to the hitch connector 70. The distal section 80 is configuredfor coupling directly to the vehicle hitch 72. The distal section 80 isoffset from the hitch connector 70 whereby the spaced arms 64,66 arepositioned at an elevated height relative to the distal section 80. Alocking sleeve 82 is coupled to the offset connector 78 and the hitchconnector 52. The hitch connector 52 is slidably inserted into thelocking sleeve 82. A pin 84 is insertable through the locking sleeve 82and the hitch connector 52 whereby the hitch connector 52 is securelycoupled to the offset connector 78.

The shaft 12 may have a diameter between 2 centimeters and 2.5centimeters. The end members 16,18 may each be square shaped havingsides between 42 and 44 centimeters in length. The hitch connector 70may have a length between 24 and 26 centimeters long constructed out ofsquare tubing having sides between 4 and 6 centimeters in length. Theoffset connector 78 may raise the hitch connector 70 between 34 and 37centimeters. The shaft 12 may be allowed to rotate within the slots 68as wire form the wire reel 14 is dispensed but the flat surfaces 22 mayeach have a length which causes them to strike cross-member 76 toprevent rotation of the end members 16 and 18 to assist in brakingaction.

In use, the shaft 12 is inserted through one end member 16, through thewire reel 14, and then through the second end member 18. The first andsecond locking assemblies 34 and 42 are manipulated to secure the endmembers 16, 18 to hold the wire reel 14 in place. The wire reel 14 maythen be held easily by grasping the shaft 12. If needed the wire reel 14may be placed on the ground and the flat surfaces 22 prevent the wirereel 14 from rolling. The flat surfaces 22 also prevent unintendedrolling if the wire reel 14 is accidentally dropped. When desired, theshaft 12 may be placed into the slots 68 of the holding assembly 58. Theholding assembly 58, with or without the offset connector 78, may beconnected to a vehicle hitch 72.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure.

I claim:
 1. A wire reel holder assembly comprising: an elongated shaftconfigured for insertion through a wire reel; a pair of end members,each end member having a polygonal shape such that an outer perimeteredge of said end members each include a plurality of flat surfaces toprevent said end members from rolling when said elongated shaft isextended through said end members, each end member having a centralopening, said shaft being slidably insertable through said centralopening of each end member whereby said end members are configured forpositioning at each end of the wire reel, each end member beingsecurable to said shaft whereby said end member is held in a staticposition along a length of said shaft and said end members areconfigured for compressing the wire reel into a static position relativeto said end members.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said polygonalshape is a square.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further including saidend members each having a planar surface, said planar surfaces facingeach other when said end members are coupled to said shaft.
 4. Theassembly of claim 1, further including a first locking assembly coupledto a first one of said end members, said first locking assembly engagingsaid shaft and preventing rotation of said shaft with said first one ofsaid end members.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, further including a secondlocking assembly coupled to a second one of said end members, saidsecond locking assembly engaging said shaft and preventing rotation ofsaid shaft with said second one of said end members.
 6. The assembly ofclaim 1, further including a holding assembly, said holding assemblyhaving a pair of spaced arms, said spaced arms having aligned slotsreceiving said shaft, said spaced arms being configured for positioningthe wire reel between said spaced arms when said shaft is received insaid slots in said spaced arms.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, furtherincluding said holding assembly having a hitch connector coupled to andextending from said spaced arms, said hitch connector being configuredfor attachment to a vehicle hitch whereby the wire reel is transportableby a vehicle.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising: across-member of said holding assembly extending between said spacedarms; and said hitch connector extending from said cross-member.
 9. Theassembly of claim 8, further including an offset connector coupled toand extending from said hitch connector, said offset connector having adistal section relative to said hitch connector, said distal sectionbeing configured for coupling to the vehicle hitch, said distal sectionbeing offset from said hitch connector whereby said spaced arms arepositionable at an elevated height relative to said distal section. 10.The assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a locking sleeve coupled tosaid offset connector, said hitch connector being slidably inserted intosaid locking sleeve; and a pin insertable through said locking sleeveand said hitch connector whereby said hitch connector is securelycoupled to said offset connector.